Hey there Blerdy Tribe, it’s Melanin Monday here on Blerdy Otome and that means I’m spotlighting another Melanin Friendly Game! For those of you just joining the party—every Monday I spotlight games that feature Black and brown characters for anyone looking for titles with just a bit more representation. As a blerd and a gamer, I am always on the lookout for representation in my games. This is largely a personal project for me—there are almost no “diverse game” tags on major game sites—so, it can be pretty difficult find games with characters of color… unless you already know where to look.
I skipped last week, but I’m back and I’m spotlighting a game I’ve covered before, but when you come across a game this good it doesn’t hurt to talk about it again! This week I’m covering the horror suspense visual novel Lake of Voices, developed by indie game studio GB Patch. The game follows guard for hire, Kikka, and her companion Belleme as they attempt to cross Sinnlos, a lake that’s home to gruesome monsters. The creatures that dwell beneath it’s murky depths have claimed the lives of many unfortunate travelers. In order to complete the journey, Kikka and her companion must rely on mysterious Guide if they have any chance of surviving the treacherous two day journey. However, they are not the only travelers hoping to cross Sinnlos, but with a larger group, the chances of survival are significantly decreased…
This is one of the more immersive visual novels I have played, utilizing a timed response mechanic that forces player to make split second decisions that could be the difference between life or death for Kikka and her companions. Lake of Voices is a game where not everyone won’t survive, it’s up to you to decide who will make it to the end of your journey. I am a sucker for horror games, but Lake of Voices really ups the stakes by giving players a direct hand in the fates of not just the protagonist, Kikka, but each of her companions. Every choice matters and some sacrifices will need to be made if you plan on making it through the events of the story unharmed—and even if you do manage to survive the dangerous trek across Sinnlos, you won’t be the same person you were at the start of your journey.
All of the characters are great and you really grow attached to them and you genuinely want to see them make across Sinnlos, which can be heartbreaking in a game where anyone (and I mean anyone) can die. You especially feel for the protagonist, Kikka, who at the start of the game is a strong young woman—a warrior with strong convictions and a keen survival instinct. But as the game progresses you see just how much of an emotional toll the events of the game have on her. You see her break down at the loss of life when one of her companions doesn’t make it. You feel her fear when faced with the creatures living in the lake. She is a character with nuance, which you don’t see too often with women of color, especially in Black and Brown female characters. She is allowed to be vulnerable and that goes a long way towards making this game such an enjoyable experience!
Lake of Voices is an immersive visual novel that displays a depth you’d expect to see in a commercial release from a mainstream gaming studio. GB Patch has a knack for telling emotional character driven stories that warrant multiple playthroughs and Lake of Voices is no different. So, if you are looking for a compelling story with strong characters and high stakes, I highly recommend playing this game!
Available On: PC (Widows, Mac, and Linux) | Steam
Thank you for reading and supporting Blerdy Otome! Have you played Lake of Voices? Share your thoughts! Got a Melanin Friendly Game you think I should spotlight? Send it to me! 🙂
This game was so good 👌
So good, had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!